Device for applying printed matter to objects



June 5, 1956 A. E. WHITECAR 2748 DEVICE FOR APPLYING PRINTED MATTER TO OBJECTS Filed NOV. 7, 1951 Fig.2

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. -3 ALTEN E. WHITECAR ATTORNEYS Juna 5, 1956 A. E. WHiTECAR 2748,695

DEVICE FOR A PPIAING PRINTED MATTER TO OBJECTS riled NOV. 7, 11951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ALTEN E WHITECAR BY MAM ATTORNEYS Jim: 5, 1956 A. E. WHITECAR 2748,695

EEEEEEEEEEEEE AR June 5, 1956 A. a WHITECAR 2748.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING PRINTED MATTER T0 OBJECTS Filed Nov. 7 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ALTEN E. WHITECAR ATTORNEYS June 5, 1956 A. E. WHITECAR 2748,

- DEVICE FOR APPLYING PRINTED MATTER T0 OBJECTS Filed Nov. 7, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTC'R.

ALTEN E. WHITECAR BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent DEVICE FOR APPLYING PRINTED MATTER TO OBJECTS Alten E. Whitecar, Westville, N. 1., assignor to Smith, Kline & French Laboratories, Philadeiphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,291

8 Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates to a device for applying printed matter to objects. More specifically, this invention relates to a device for stencilling addresses on containers such as cardboard boxes and the like.

Heretofore, when stencilling addresses on boxes to be shipped, the operation was customarily performed using a manually operated printing device in which the stencilled address was mounted on a roller which was rolled along the surface of the box to print the address thereon.

This manual operation is a time consuming one and is unsuited to modern shipping methods in which many It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for applying printed matter to containers in which an automatically operated barrier is used, in conjunction with the printing mechanism to properly space the objects upon which the printed matter is to be applied.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for applying printed matter to containers in which a novel type of momentary contact switch is used in con junction with the printing mechanism in order that containers ofdifferent lengths may be accommodated .by said printing mechanism. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a barrier which is mounted between two conveyors and may be employed to space objects traveling on said conveyors.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel type of momentary contact switch.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Figure l is a side view of a printing mechanism as it appears in relation to a barrier used in conjunction therewith;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure l; I

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure '4 is an exploded isometric view of the support for a rotatable printer;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an isometric View of the barrier and operating mechanism therefor;

Figure 7 is a detail view of a momentary cont-act switch; and

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram for the combined barrier and printing mechanisms.

Referring specifically to Figures 1 and 3, a conveyor belt 2 is supported on a roll 4, said roll being supported by side rails 6. Mounted on side rails 6 are brackets 8, v "said-brackets 8 supporting cross members 10 at their upper ends. Mounted on cross members 10 are supporting brackets 12, said brackets 12 supporting rails 14 at their left-hand end, as viewed in Figure 1. Rails 14 are mounted at an angle to compensate for the speed of travel of conveyor 2. Secured to the upper ends of rails 14 is a plate 16, having a bracket 18 secured thereto, said bracket 18 being secured to bracing rod 20, which is secured at its lower end to a cross member 10. Block 24 is secured to rails 14. Member 28 is secured at its upper end to valve and slides in plate 16 and block 24. Member 28 may slide in plate 16 and block 24 through a limited distance against the action of tension spring 30.

Frame members 32 are secured together by cross members 34, said members 32 and 34 being supported on rollers 36, said rollers 36 traveling on tracks formed by rails '14 and cooperating brackets 38 mounted on rails 14 above rollers 36. Frame members 32 and 34 are moved downwardly by piston rod 40, shown in Figure 2. Piston rod 40 is secured to the lower ends of frame members 32. Tension springs 42, which are secured to brackets 44 at their lower ends, and to bracket 46 at their upper ends, serve to continually bias frame members 32 and 34 in an upward direction.

Mounted at the lower ends of frame members 32, as best seen in Figure 4, is a support for a rotatable printer, such as an Algene printer, although it will be appreciated that any other similar type of printer can also be used. Mounted between frame members 32 is a vertical plate 47 having a pin 48 projecting from the front thereof, and an L-shaped bracket 50 mounted on the top thereof. Member 52 holds one end of the rotatable printer and has a hole 54 therein through which pin 48 projects to support member 52 and printer 56. Member 52 has a hook 58 on the top thereof, said hook 58 engaging a tension spring 60, said tension spring 60 engaging L-shaped bracket 50 at its upper end. Thus it is seen that member 52 is pivotally supported on pin 48. Member 52 may be secured on pin 48 by a collar, for example. The pivotal mounting of member 52 permits the printer to conform to an uneven surface. Also mounted on the top of member 52 is a micro-switch 62. Microswitch 62 is operated by an adjustable screw 64 which projects through member 66, said member 66 being rotatably pinned to a bracket 68 at its lower end. Adjustable screw 64 is held in engagement with micro-switch 62 by tension spring 65. Member 66 has an arm 70 projecting therefrom, said arm 70 engaging bracket 72 at the extreme lower limit of travel of frame members 32 and 34 and printer 56 in order to prevent printer 56 from striking conveyor 2. Also rotatably pinned to bracket 68 is an arm 74 which abuts against member 66 and which projects through aperture 76 in the casing of printer 56. The purpose of arm 74 is to operate microswitch 62 through screw 64 when the rotatable printer has made one revolution, and in so doing trips arm 74. Printer 56 is held against member 52 by tension spring 78.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 3, an air valve 80 is mounted adjacent the top of air cylinder 26. Air valve 80 is operated by a solenoid 82 which is connected to air valve operating lever 84 by spring 86. Air valve operating lever 84 is biased toward the closed position by spring 88. Mounted above air valve 80 are volume control 90, pressure control 92 and air inlet line 94, which may be connected at its opposite end to any convenient source of compressed air. Pipe 96 extends above air inlet line 94 and supports bracket 46.

Mounted on the right-hand end of cross member 10, as viewed in Figure l, is a control box 98 having line 100 connected thereto at one end and to solenoid 82 at. itsopposite end, and line 102 connected thereto at one end and connected to microswitch 62 at its opposite end.

Mounted adjacent conveyor roller 4 is barrier gate 104, as shown in Figure 1.

As best shown in Figure 5, barrier gate 104 is mounted between conveyor 2 and an additional conveyor 106 which conveys containers, such as boxes, from right to left, as viewed in Figure 5. It will be appreciated-that a single conveyor could be employed in lieu of two conveyors by, for example, passing a singlereach of a conveyor below and around the barrier gate assembly. This may be accomplished, for example, by means of rolls, positioned below the barrier gate, which engage the conveyor. Mounted above conveyor 106 are guide rails 108 and 110 which serve to properly position a container traveling on conveyors 106 and 250 that they will.properly approach barrier gate 104 and will, after passing barrier gate 104. trip switch arms 112 on switches.114, 116, 118, 120. 122, 124, and 126. As will be. seen from Figure 1, switch 120 is mounted directlyaboveswitch l18for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Switches 114, 116, 118, I and 122 are conventional cam actuated microswitches. Switches 124 and 126 are special momentary contact switches and will be hereinafter described in detail. As will be seen from Figurel, switches 122, 124and 126 are supported'by bracket 128 secured to upstandingbrackets 8.

Referring specifically to Figure 6, the barrier an'dopcrating mechanism therefor are shown and consist of barrier gate 104 which is mounted at an angle onmemher 130. The'purpose of mounting'barrier' .gate 104 at an angle on member 130 is to prevent'shifting of the container when the container abuts the barriergate since the container will abut the barrier gate at an angle, "due to'the conformation of guide rail 110. Preferably'the angle between the gate 104 and guide rail 110 is about 90. Member 130 is rotatably mounted on rod 132 and 'has wedge shaped arm 134 formed integrally therewith and projecting from the front thereof. Also formed integrally with member 130 is arm 136 which engages" roller 138, said roller 138 being pinned to arm 140, said arm -140being-rotatably supported at its right-hand end,'as viewed in Figure 6, as shown at 142. Arm-140'is-supportedby. plate 144, said plate 144 being-pivotally mountedin brackets 146, said brackets 146 being securedto stationary'side rail1-48.

Member .132 is fixedly secured to plate 2150:which is formed integrally with plate 144 at its right-hand end,

as viewed in Figured Member .132 at its left-hand end may reciprocate inslot 152 formed in stationary siderail 154, and has bracket 156 secured to the end thereof. Bracket 156 has an arm 158 at its lower end, having spring 160 secured thereto, said spring engaginggsolenoid 162 at its upper end. Bracket 156 also has arm 164 at its upper end, having spring 166 securedthereto, said spring 166being secured to solenoid 168at its lower end. Mounted adjacent solenoid 168 on the opposite side of stationary side rail 154 is projecting bar 170 which isarranged so that wedge shaped arm 134 engages-bar 170 when rod 132 travels downwardly in slot 152. Bracket 156 alsohas arm 172 projecting therefrom, whichopcrates micro-switch 174 when rod 132 andbracket 156 move downwardly.

Mounted below member 140 is the latch release for barrier gate 104 consisting of solenoid 176 having arm 178 projecting upwardly therefrom said-arm 178*being provided witlra rubberbumper 180 at'the topthereof which engages'the-underside of arm 140.

Referring to Figure 7, a momentary contact switch is shown whichis the type shown at 124 and 126 in :the drawings and which v.permits a momentaryrcontactto'be made with a conventional microswitch, irrespective of the length of a container which may be passing the switch. The switch consists of a base member 182 having an arm 184 pivotally connected thereto, as shown at 186. Asecond arm 188 is pivotally mounted on arm 184,135

4 shown at 190. Arm 184 is U-shaped at its left-hand end, as viewed in Figure 7, as shown at 192, and encircles arm 1.88 on three sides thereof. Arms 184 and 188 are biased clockwise, as viewed in Figure 7, by springs 194 and 196, respectively.

Mounted on the left-hand side of base member 182 is arm 198, said arm 198 being pivotally mounted, as shown at 200. Arm 198 is held in engagement with pin 202 by spring 204. Arm 198, at its left'hand end, engages the actuating lever of a conventional microswitch 206. Thus it is seen that when lever 184 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 7, lever 188 is also rotated counterclockwise, and in rotating, rotates arm 198 clockwise thus tripping microswitch 206. When arms 184 and 188 return to their original position, i. e., rotate clockwise, arm "188 rides over the stationary end of arm 198 which is held by pin 202. Thus a complete operation of the switch assembly trips microswitch 206 only once.

The operation of the disclosed embodiment ofthe invention will be described in conjunction with Figure 8, which is a wiring diagram for the disclosed embodiment. As a container, such as a rectangular cardboard box,

proceeds from right to left on conveyors 106 and 2, as

viewed in Figures 1 and 5, it will first close switch 114 in the barrier operating circuit. The closing of switch 114 alone has no etfect, but when the box proceeds to close switch '116 while, at the same time, holding switch 114 closed, relay 208 is energized, thus closing contact '210 and opening contact 212. Closing contact 210 energizes solenoid 162, as best shown in Figure 6,which lifts barriergate 104. When barrier gate 104 is in the raised position, as shownin Figure 6, a succeeding container is prevented from proceeding from conveyor 106 to conveyor 2 until the barrier gate is lowered. Spring is ofinsufiicient strength to lift a container when spring 160 is raised by solenoid 162 and a container is passing over'barrier gate 104. Conveyor 106 is mounted slightly lower than conveyor 2 so that barrier gate 104,

by dragging the bottom of a container, will abut against the next adjacent container, irrespective of whether there is any clearance between the containers-or not.

If the box has a relatively small height it will proceedto close switch 118, maintaining current to relay 208 after switches 114 and 116 return to their original position. A high box opens switch 120, which will deenergize relay 208, as soon as the end of the box passes switch 114. This energizes solenoid 168, pulling barrier gate'104'down and also'energizes solenoid 176 to trip the latching mechanism on barrier gate 104.

Itwill 'be appreciated that a smaller interval is required'between a high-box and the next adjacent box. This results from the fact that less time is required for the printing head to-return after printing a-high box. As a result of the employment of a smaller interval' between the'high boxes, the production rate is increased.

It will be 'seen, by referring to-Figure 6, that when arm -178 on solenoid 176 raises latching lever 140,the pressure of the container against barrier gate 104 causes it to rotate clockwise, as viewed in Figure 6, thus falling 'awayirom contact with the container. Atthc sametime,

rod 132 is pulled downwardly in slot 152 while supporting member 144 pivots in brackets 146. As gate 104 rotates clockwise and is-pulled downwardly, projection 134 engages stud so that when the rod 132 is in "the low position in-slot 152, the gate 104 will bemade to stand upright. When the gate 104 is returned to itsupright position, the lowering of latch lever 140 by solenoid arm "178 will lock the gate in the vertical position.

Thus, whenthe gate is raised by a succeeding action of solenoid 162, it will also'be vertical inthe raised. position.

This action occurs when the gate is-in the fully depressed position and the opening of switch 174 resets the latch that it could also be used for any other application where it is desired to have a measured distance between a series of containers traveling on a conveyor belt.

As the box proceeds on conveyor belt 2 it opens switch 122 and closes switch 124. If the box is long enough to hold switch 122 open, there is no eflect on the circuit. If

' the box isshort and switch 122 is closed, switch 124 energizes relay 214 thus closing contacts'216 and 218"and energizing solenoid 82 on the printing mechanism. When solenoid 82 on the printing mechanism is energized, air valve 80 is opened and the printer 56 is moved downwardly by the admission of compressed air to cylinder 26. When the printer 56 engages the box, the movement of the box beneath the printer will cause a rotation of the rotary printer which will then print the desired address on the container. Valve 80 remains open until switch 62 in the holding circuit through contact 216 is opened.

Springs 42 then retract the printing mechanism.

With a long box having no efiect when switch 122 is opened and switch 124 is closed, switch 126 will energize relay 214 and the printing cycle operates as above described.

, It will be appreciated that if the box is printed adjacent to the front end thereof, the appearance is not as desirable as when the box is printed near the center. Therefore, the ability of the machine to print in two positions results in a neater appearance where long and short boxes are printed in succession.

The distance between switches 124 and 126 is critical and is governed by the maximum printing length of the rotating head in the printing device. Since switch 126 always operates, it must be closed before switch 62 is opened, or a double printing would be made. As will be seen from Figure 4, switch 62 is operated by the rotation of the rotary printer striking arm 74, causing adjustable screw 64 to operate micro-switch 62.

Switches 124 and 126 are special momentary contact switches, shown in detail in Figure 7. Thus it will be seen that irrespective of the length of the box passing switches 124 and 126, a momentary contact only is made by the conventional micro-switches 206 employed in the assemblies of these two switches.

Various modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the scope of the present invention is to be restricted only in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a rotatable printer, a hydraulic ram supporting said printer, a source of fluid under pressure, means including a valve connecting said source of fluid under pressure to said ram, means to open said valve in timed relation with the advancement of an article on said conveyor to effect a lowering of the ram to bring and hold the printer in contact with said article and means to raise said ram after a predetermined amount of rotation of the printer.

2. An article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a rotatable printer, a hydraulic ram supporting said printer, a source of fluid under pressure, means including a valve connecting said source of fluid under pressure to said ram, means to open said valve in timed relation with the advancement of an article on said conveyor to effect a lowering of the ram to bring and hold the printer in contact with said article, a spring biasing said ram upwardly and means to close said valve after a predetermined amount of rotation of the printer to effect the raising of the ram by said spring.

3. In combination an article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a hydraulic ram mounted over said conveyor at an angle to the horizontal with the lower end of the ram advanced towards the discharge end of the conveyor, a printer rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor and attached to said ram, means to lower said ram to bring and hold said printer in contact with an article being advanced on said conveyor, and means to raise said ram after a predetermined amount of rotation of the printer by the article.

' 4. In combination an article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a hydraulic ram mounted over said conveyor at an angle to the horizontal with the lower end of the ram advanced towards the discharge end of the conveyor, a frame, a printer rotatably secured to said frame on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor and said frame being pivotally mounted to said ram for pivoting. transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor, means to lower said ram to bring and hold said printer in contact with an article being advanced on said conveyor, and means to raise said ram after a predetermined amount of rotation of the printer by the article.

5. In combination an article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a hydraulic ram mounted over said conveyor at an angle to the horizontal with the lower end of the ram advanced towards the discharge end of the conveyor, a printer rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor and attached to said ram, means to lower said ram to bring and hold said printer in contact with an article being advanced on said conveyor, a source of fluid under pressure, means including a valve connecting said source of fluid under pressure to said ram, means to open said valve in timed relation with an article on said conveyor to efiect a lowering of the ram to bring and hold the printer in contact with said article and means to raise said ram after a predetermined amount of rotation of said printer.

6. In combination an article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a hydraulic ram mounted over said conveyor at an angle to the horizontal with the lower end of the ram advanced towards the discharge end of the conveyor, a printer rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor and attached to said ram, means to lower said ram to bring and hold said printer in contact with an article being advanced on said conveyor, a source of fluid under pressure, means including a valve connecting said source of fluid under pressure to said ram, means to open said valve in timed relation with an article on said conveyor to effect a lowering of the ram to bring and hold the printer in contact with said ram, a spring biasing said ram upwardly and means to close said valve after a predetermined amount of rotation of the printer to etfect a raising of the ram by said spring.

7. In combination an article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a hydraulic ram mounted over said conveyor at an angle to the horizontal with the lower end of the ram advanced towards the discharge end of the conveyor, a printer rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor and attached to said ram, means to lower said ram to bring and hold said printer in contact with an article being advanced on said conveyor, means to delay the lowering of said ram a predetermined period of time when the article on the conveyor to be printed exceeds a predetermined length, and means to raise said printer from said article after a predetermined amount of rotation of the printer by the article.

8. In combination an article conveyor adapted to operate continuously, a hydraulic ram mounted over said conveyor at an angle to the horizontal with the lower end of the ram advanced towards the discharge end of the conveyor, a printer rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said conveyor and attached to said ram, a source of fluid under pressure, means including a valve connecting said source of fluid under pressure to said ram to lower the ram in order to bring and hold the printerin contact with an article on .said conveyor, a solenoid controlling .said

valve, first, second and third switches spaced-along said conveyor in the direction of its run andin position to be engaged by an article being conveyed, simultaneous engagement of all of said switches energizing said solenoid to open the valve and engagement of the second References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,206 McDonough May- 28, 1929 Priest May 27, 1919 8 Bower May 23, .1933 Weymouth Apr.'12, 1938 Ness Apr. 4, 1939 Ferguson Sept. 5, 1939 -Semi Mar. 26, 1940 'Gantzer Apr. 11, 1944 Schmitt Mar. 20, 1945 Lacy-Hulbert Aug. 5, 1947 'Sanders et a1. June 22, 1948 'Repka Nov. 23, I948 Kaminky et al June 13, 1950 Ettinger Aug. 1, 1950 

